Welcome to class.

Today's topic:

Rule 9-1-6

Blocking Below the Waist

ARTICLE 6

... and Georgia Tech

What you need to know: This rule has nothing to do with chop blocks. Don't confuse the two. Blocking below the waist and chop blocks are two separate issues, but both rules are related to safety concerns because the defenders usually don't see the block coming.

Definition of a chop block: Any offensive player who makes a high block, which is also accompanied by a low block at the thigh or below, regardless of the order. About 95 percent of chop blocks occur on the interior line immediately when the ball is snapped.

Definition of a cut block: Coachspeak for all low blocks.

As for blocking below the waist, it's not allowed. Unless it's one of these exceptions ...

1. Against the ball carrier.

2. Before a change of possession on scrimmage downs that do not include kicks, blocking below the waist is allowed as follows:

(a) Players of the offensive team who at the snap are:

(1) on the line of scrimmage more than 7 yards from the middle lineman of the offensive formation, or;

(2) in the backfield outside the tackle box, or;

(3) in motion, may block below the waist only along a north-south line or toward the sideline adjacent to them at the snap.

(b) Players of the offensive team who at the snap are inside the tackle box or on the line of scrimmage inside the seven-yard limit may block below the waist.

I contacted Doug Rhoads, the ACC's coordinator for football officiating, for more information on how the rule change specifically affects option teams like Georgia Tech.

Here was his response:

"There is no real change, as all offensive players remain restricted from blocking below the waist [unless north-south or back away from the sideline where they were when the ball was snapped]. I see no difference for option teams [such as Georgia Tech, Navy, Georgia Southern, etc.], as their potential low blockers can still do so -- as long as they are within 7 yards of the middle lineman [if on the line] or within the tackle box [if in the backfield]. All these changes have done is to make it easier for the officials to ascertain if the block below the waist is allowed or illegal. All teams, not just option teams, are now also restricted from blocking below the waist downfield, unless north-south or back toward the sideline where they were when the ball was snapped. Last year, everyone could block below the waist if it was at least 10 yards downfield. Now, this is eliminated, as it was difficult for officials to tell the difference between 9.5 yards or 10.5 yards.

"Option teams work very hard to meet these requirements -- and in my opinion generally do so. We have very few of these 'crack-back' blocks, and some occur with non-option teams as much as they do with option offenses."

So while the language of the rule has changed, it shouldn't make much of a difference for Georgia Tech or its opponents. It should, however, help officials define and recognize illegal blocks.